<p>An Indianapolis-based peer counseling group is taking steps to make sure Johnson County residents don’t have to be alone in their battle against cancer.</p>
<p>When Franklin resident Tammy Etter faced breast cancer a decade ago, she was fortunate to have support from her friends and family, she said.</p>
<p>“It’s hard, but at the time I had my kids, my faith in God and my family and friends, so I was blessed,” she said.</p>
<p>But many of the people diagnosed with cancer should have extra support. In Indiana, that has come in the form of the Pink Ribbon Connection, a nonprofit organization that pairs breast cancer survivors with residents who are fighting the disease. In June, eight people attended training to become peer counselors in Johnson County, Etter said.</p>
<p>“We are unique because we have walked down that road,” she said of peer counselors. “Each individual’s journey will be different. If we can help that particular patient with any sort of question they have, that’s what we’re here for. If they just want to talk about their day, we’re here for their emotional support.”</p>
<p>Pink Ribbon Connection was founded by a group of survivors in 2006. The organization provides free supplies to women fighting breast cancer, including wigs, mastectomy bras, prostheses and post-surgical garments. The organization gets most of its funding through private donations and the annual breast cancer survivor fashion show, Executive Director Dori Sparks-Unsworth said.</p>
<p>Last year, Pink Ribbon Connection raised $80,000 from the fashion show. This year, the goal is $100,000, she said.</p>
<p>The fashion show will take place on Oct. 12 at the downtown Indianapolis Marriott. Survivors from each year of remission up to 25 years will take the runway. The show will feature survivors wearing a variety of outfits, but part of the draw is a message of perseverance, as each model will tell the story of how she beat cancer, Sparks-Unsworth said.</p>
<p>The advantage of Pink Ribbon Connection lies in its empathy, which is what Pink Ribbon looks for in its peer counselors, she said.</p>
<p>“They become the emotional support throughout the treatment process, as long as the patient wants emotional support; it may be a month, it may be a year,” she said of the counselors. “Our tagline is, ‘So no one has to face breast cancer alone.’”</p>
<p>Peer counselors have delivered food to cancer patients who are housebound and have gone to chemotherapy appointments with patients who don’t have family members to sit with them, Sparks-Unsworth said.</p>
<p>Since Etter was trained as a peer counselor two months ago, Pink Ribbon Connection hasn’t partnered her with anyone yet. She joined Pink Ribbon three years ago as a volunteer, and one of her objectives is to continue to raise awareness for what the organization does, she said.</p>
<p>“I would love to see more ladies take advantage of the services we offer,” Etter said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The annual Stars of Pink fashion show will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 12 at the downtown Indianapolis Marriott.</p>
<p>Tickets: $100 and can be purchased by visiting <a href="http://pinkribbonconnection.org/fashion-show.html">http://pinkribbonconnection.org/fashion-show.html</a></p>
<p>More information: Call 317-255-PINK (7465)</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
